By NATE KING
Salina Post
U.S. Senator Roger Marshall made a "surprise" stop in Salina on Monday to tour three major housing developments and discuss the growing strain on housing in Kansas communities. Marshall linked federal regulations and supply chain disruptions to the slowing pace of construction across the state, warning that continued delays could hinder rural workforce recruitment and retention.
"Number one is, 'Why is housing so expensive right now?' and I've asked the builders, why has the cost of housing gone up so much, and they would talk about inflation, but more so the regulatory environment," Sen. Marshall said. "To build a housing spot, but also spending two or three years going through the regulatory process."
Marshall said several housing projects across Kansas have been stalled for six to nine months due to delays in acquiring electrical transformers—components essential for powering new developments. He attributed the bottleneck not only to supply chain disruptions and federal regulations, but a lack of domestic mineral production.
"Transformers are one of the biggest things slowing down housing construction right now," Marshall said.
Marshall shared that many of the materials needed to manufacture transformers, such as iron for the core, copper for windings and mineral oil for insulation and cooling, are either heavily regulated or primarily sourced from abroad.
“We don’t mine [those minerals] anymore in this country,” Marshall said. “There’s this huge demand for transformers. Every wind turbine has one at its base, so that adds to the shortage.”
Kansas is one of the top five wind energy producers in the nation.
Marshall also noted that some provisions in the federal Farm Bill — renewed every five years — support rural economic development, including housing projects. The most recent Farm Bill, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, was extended through Sept. 30, 2025, under the American Relief Act of 2025, which was signed into law on Dec. 21, 2024. While the developments he toured in Salina did not receive USDA assistance, others across the state have benefited from rural loan programs tied to the bill.
Marshall said housing shortages are one of the biggest obstacles facing rural Kansas, especially in communities trying to grow their workforce in healthcare, manufacturing and education.
“We were in Minneapolis earlier today, and they said, ‘We’ve kind of become a bedroom community for Salina,’” Marshall said. “But they don’t have homes people can move into. Part of the reason we can’t find people to move here is because of a lack of affordable, suitable housing.”
He added that rural areas often face higher construction costs per square foot due to fewer economies of scale. Marshall said access to housing remains one of the top concerns he hears from constituents.
"I said this 20 years ago, the biggest challenges for Kansas are water and a lack of people for the jobs we have," Sen. Marshall said. "In order for rural America to survive, you need things like, good education, good health care, high-speed internet, housing, those are all basic necessities that we struggle in rural America to do."
When asked about concerns that housing projects in Salina are being built and contracted by out-of-town firms, Marshall acknowledged the issue but pointed to broader challenges facing the construction industry across Kansas.
“The builders typically try to use as many local contractors as they can,” Marshall said. “But again, there’s a labor shortage. Everybody has the opportunity to bid, and I hope it’s the local person that wins. But you can’t subsidize people either—it’s easier said than done.”
Lauren Driscoll, director of community and development services for the City of Salina, confirmed that Marshall’s visit was unexpected but appreciated.
“The purpose of the visit yesterday—it was a total surprise for us—but he was in state visiting and wanted to talk about housing. That was the focus of the tour,” Driscoll said.
With just 20 minutes to spare, Driscoll gave Marshall a quick tour of three major developments: South View Estates, Aero Plains and Magonlia Village.
“We drove—South View and Aero Plains and the Salina Destination Magnolia Village project —that’s as much as I could get in 20 minutes,” Driscoll said.
Driscoll said South View Estates, located off Ohio Street, includes more than 100 units. The Aero Plains project is expected to bring 300 units at full buildout, and Magnolia Village located off Virginia Drive, will add approximately 500 units once both Phase I and II are completed.
While some residents have voiced concern about out-of-town businesses and contractors winning bids, Driscoll said the picture is more nuanced.
“Even if you have a general contractor from outside, they a lot of times use local subcontractors,” she said. “To do as much housing as we need, at the speed at which we need it—even if you had everybody local working—it’s still not enough.”
Salina Housing Projects
South View Estates
Located in southeast Salina, this new development will feature 108 housing units in the form of single-family homes and duplex townhomes, with prices ranging from $179,000 to $204,000. Construction began in early 2022, and several homes were on the market by late that year as part of a public-private effort to expand local workforce housing.
The project’s infrastructure is backed by up to $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds from Saline County, Moderate Income Housing (MIH) grant funds from the state and the area has been designated a Rural Housing Incentive District to help finance streets and utilities.
Homes in South View Estates are designed with modern, low-maintenance materials and popular features like granite countertops and attached garages to appeal to first-time buyers.
Aero Plains
Planned on more than 53 acres in south Salina near West Magnolia Road and Interstate 135, Aero Plains is a large housing subdivision slated for 338 units at full build-out. The project is divided into two phases—Phase I with 150 duplex-style townhome units and Phase II with 188 more—aimed at providing moderate-income “workforce” housing.
It has been approved for a state Moderate Income Housing (MIH) grant, and the city has designated the site as a Rural Housing Incentive District, meaning property tax increments will help fund infrastructure improvements. Initial building permits have already been issued for portions of Phase I, signaling that construction is underway.
Salina Destination Development- Magnolia Village
Near the intersection of Magnolia Road and I-135, this project is launching a large multi-family housing complex to address Salina’s growing need for workforce housing.
Phase I includes 254 modern apartments with amenities such as a clubhouse, basketball court, children’s playground, pickleball court, BBQ area, and in-unit laundry. Phase II will add approximately 250 units of “horizontal apartments” and three additional multistory buildings, bringing the total to around 500 new rental units upon completion.
The development is supported by $25 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds awarded through Kansas legislation and overseen by the Department of Commerce. Construction on Phase I is expected to be completed by early 2026. Phase II construction begins this spring with an estimated completion sometimes in 2027.